Sunday May 18th we will have a luncheon after church to honor our graduates and a baby shower for Lee and Myghan Meadow. The shower will be a diaper/wipes shower and there will be a money tree for them as well. Charles Hagood will be cooking brisket so please bring a side dish or desert to share.
Scripture
John 10:1-21 (ESV)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. [2] But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. [5] A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." [6] This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
[7] So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. [9] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. [11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. [13] He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. [17] For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. [18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."
[19] There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. [20] Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?" [21] Others said, "These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
Questions for Reflection
1. What person or group did you and your friends “follow” when you were a teenager?
2. Why won’t sheep follow a stranger? (10:5)
3. What effect did Jesus’ words have on His audience? (10:6)
4. What did Jesus say He was? (10:7)
5. To whom did Jesus say the sheep did not listen? (10:8)
6. What did Jesus say would be the result of entering through Him? (10:9)
7. How did Jesus contrast His coming with the coming of a thief? (10:10)
8. Who did Jesus claim to be? (10:11)
9. Why did Jesus say the hired hand would abandon his sheep? (10:12-13)
10. What type of relationship did Jesus say He had with His sheep? (10:14)
11. What did Jesus say He did for His sheep? (10:15)
12. In what way is Jesus like a shepherd?
13. How are we like sheep?
14. How would you describe your relationship with Jesus?
15. How can we better hear the voice of Jesus?
